Raising Elle by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book in The Sweet Valley series by S.E. Reichert. You will fall in love with all the characters especially Elle and Blake. So full of depth and raw emotion.
A great love story written so beautifully, but definitely some triggers. Push threw them if you can, you won’t be disappointed.
Savage Truth: A Dark High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Savage Truth is the second book in this series and directly follows book one, so this cannot be read as a standalone. This is the conclusion to Riley and Cole’s Story who we met in book one. I really enjoyed their story even if i wanted to smack them occasionally. The author pulled me in and made the main characters interesting even when they were being total wankers. There was drama, suspense and with danger just around the corner no one could relax. This was a little angsty for my taste but i enjoyed the story overall and was eager to see how some of the “who’s and what’s” questions that book one left me with. I am looking forward to more books by this author in the future!
Happy Reading!
Non Verbal by Molly Zenk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Nonverbal by Molly Zenk a young adult and family oriented book
Severely autistic middle schooler Emerson Rayne’s words disappeared when she was fifteen months old, but that doesn’t mean she has no voice. As she navigates her day-to-day world of friendships, bullies, and overprotective, over stressed parents, Emerson’s difficult but manageable frustrations turn to self-injurious behaviors and mental and emotional instability.
Emerson’s parents fight to find her support and treatment in health and
education systems that have little options for intensive needs teens. Inspired by a true story.
Every page was exciting and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. It brings a very new perspective in your life and I couldn’t put the book down.
A Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m ready to visit Fayette, and all it’s fun and quirky characters. I would hate to find a dead body in the shed of a home I just bought. I was trying to figure out whodunnit right along with Naomi and Ella. This is such a fun, easy read. Perfect for the beach!
A Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love a good cozy mystery! This one definitely hit the spot and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. I loved getting to know the characters and have to say Barbara was my favorite. If only we all had neighbors like Naomi does. How wild to have all that happen in the first few days you move to a new place. She definitely had the best support system in her newfound friends. It definitely did not end how I expected which is a good thing. I definitely would love to read more of these characters’ stories and more from this author. If you are looking for a cozy weekend read to keep you turning the pages this is the one!
Savage Truth: A Dark High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Savage Truth is the continuation of Cole and Riley’s story. The previous book ended in one heck of a cliffhanger and the angst and attraction between them is even more dramatic at the beginning of this book than it was in the first.
Cole is still trying to find a way to get both Riley and her mother out of his and his family’s lives, and Riley is trying to discover what her mother’s angle is. Is this just another con or does she really have true feelings for Cole’s father?
As Cole and Riley try to push each other to the brink, they also can’t deny the pull they feel towards one another. The attraction they feel soon starts developing into something much more, but dangerous secrets and dangerous characters are hiding in the shadows that threaten to destroy them all.
While there was a good bit of mystery in the previous book, it gets kicked several notches in Savage Truth. As the title suggests, we finally get the answers to the questions of the dark secrets Cole and Riley’s families are keeping.
This may be the final installment to Riley and Cole’s story, but the writer, Isla Vaughn, has a whole series in store for us that promises to give us other intriguing stories and characters. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in this author’s Millersville series but only the second I’ve read. That being said, Cabin Eight reads well as a stand-alone book. One thing I noticed in the first book I read by this author is that the thrills throughout each plot make you stop to think… could this really happen? Do people do these things? That in itself is eery and something the author carried into this book as well. I liked the twists and turns throughout this novel and while I didn’t find this book one that I “couldn’t put down” I was still invested from start to finish. Overall, I think this is a really good novel and would definitely recommend to people interested in the thriller/psychological thriller. I hope to read more of this author in the future.
Foxy Tails by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Great title- plays on the “tales” versus “tails,” as Hull has 9 tales and this book is steeped in royalty and fairy tale- yes, it is a man-man romance, but at the same time, much more than that- a great story of adventure, hardship, sacrifice and finding the truth about one’s past.
Hull (the fox character) and a healer go on an adventure together to discover why they are the remaining survivors of each of their respected families. Along the way, we see a beautiful new relationship blossom and take hold. I am normally not a romance reader, so I really enjoyed the books balance between sex scenes and the adventure they go on. The third main humanoid character, female, was wonderful, as she provides logic and reasoning when both men are too caught up in love to realize. A solid 4 star read.
monster for meg by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
A Monster for Meg (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom
A Monster for Meg is a beautifully done children’s book that my five year old son loved reading. The illustrations are very well done and makes it easy for children to follow along. Meg is blind and her sister sue explains monsters to her using different senses. My son loves this author and we usually read the story four or five times in a row. One thing that you take away from this story is even though one may not be able to see there are other ways one can interpret things. Meg may not be able to see but her hearing works just fine. We always look forward to reading this authors stories. Its perfect for readers ages four to eight. Let their imagination go wild. We can’t wait to read more from this Author.
Fiddle and Fire: A Steamy Historical MMF Romance by Ariella Talix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was an interesting historical take of early San Francisco. Suzette a French woman who has just come into San Francisco, has fallen for two men that have come into her life. Walter and Isaac have been friends for years. Suzette has decided that she can’t just choose between one or the other, she wants both of them. Suzette’s past has come back into her life and put her into danger once more. Will Isaac and Walter be able to help Suzette to get over her past or will her past be too much for them together?
Non Verbal by Molly Zenk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a story that show a snippet of what it is like to be the autistic person. The struggles within herself to control her actions and words and the struggles of society. I liked how the words were placed giving me the feeling of her loss of control when an episode hits. It helps me look at a situation a little differently now. Also all the the things her parents did for her safety or to protect her (which I could under) we got to see the other side and what she thought of them but could not articulate her reasons. It was an interesting read as it gave me insight to this life she and her parents lead.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58476991-amy-s-rebellion” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Amy’s Rebellion” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625294858l/58476991._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58476991-amy-s-rebellion”>Amy’s Rebellion</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19412635.Julia_Goldhirsh”>Julia Goldhirsh</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5530726119″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Amys rebellion brings in a character that does not adhere to old societal norms and brings in this idea that the main heroine can be anything that ‘they’ want to be. Amy leads the reader on a Dark Fantasy that incorporates themes that seemed to be inspired by King Arthur and Merlin’s story. Right from the first page the reader is introduced to the idea that Amy is no naive Jane/John Doe, and has had to fight their way forward in Society. In Amy’s rebellion there is romance, adventure and mystery with a modern look to it.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/44107748-emily”>View all my reviews</a>
What Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A sweet story about a girl and her love for insects. Grandma comes for a visit and brings Loretta a special gift; a fruit tree.
Loretta decides she won’t kill any inspects that inhabit her tree. By doing so she learns about other insects, what they do and how they help her tree.
A Monster for Meg by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Most kids are scared of monsters under their beds, but what if you can’t see one? Are they still scary? Meg is blind and she’s asking her big sister Sue to describe what a monster is like. Sue describes them to Meg using things that she’s familiar with. Meg gets to learn the best thing about monsters too!
This is a fun book that is very vividly illustrated! It showcases the love of two sisters and focuses on the descriptions of what something looks like. Looking through Meg’s eyes, one might see a monster much differently!
I love books by Lois Wickstrom! They have a great message in them and usually some sort of learning tool as well. These are geared for ages 4-8 but I love reading them as an adult! They’d be great to share with kids, grandkids, daycare attendees, etc!
To be a Fae Legend by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Titania is leading her kingdom well. She is entertaining the idea of marrying to help her kingdom. Titania may be the only one who can save her kingdom. Is she the one foretold of? This was a nice return to the Fae realm. I enjoyed this young adult fantasy novel.
REIGN: The Rise of the Lich by Carol McKibben
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Matisse is evil and has been trying to become the immortal Lich. Reign and his band are trying to stop him. Will they be successful? Can Matisse be stopped for good?
Savage Truth: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Savage Truth, Hidden Valley Elite Series Book 2 is a New Adult (High School) enemy-to-lovers romance. Within its pages you will find a “bully” type relationship between the two main characters, Cole and Riley, mixed in with drama, jealousy, lies, family secrets, unexpected sparks, and maybe even some true feelings of first love. Though this can be read as a standalone, I’d really recommend reading both the prequel and the first book of this series as they give you a lot of background and insight into these characters, their lives, and everything that has been going on over the last couple of years.
Much like the prequel, Savage Start and book 1, Savage Lies, I devoured this book wanting to see what if anything Riley and Cole have discovered about themselves and each other. Have they figured out how you can crave someone so deeply and loathe them at the same time? This book starts off right at the cliffhanger point where the first book ended. Savage Truth finally answers questions like: Why have Riley and her mom been running pretty much all their lives? Does Cole admit to everyone what he knows about Riley’s mom? Will Riley finally get to stay in one place for good and have a normal high school experience? Is Riley’s dad really as bad as her mom says he is? What will happen if Riley’s dad does find them? Are they really finally safe?
“Bully” type romances are not something that has ever really interested me until now. My only negative about this series is that some of the situations or things Riley thought and said seemed a little repetitive, but thinking back, that fits with her character as those are things that have been drilled into her head based on the lifestyle she and her mom have lived. I really liked seeing Cole’s softer side in the prequel before he became so hardened by life and let-downs. The characters’ emotional growth in these books was well written and I felt like I got to watch them blossom throughout this series. I have really enjoyed this whole series and can’t wait to read more from this author and find out what happens to the rest of the Elite, Cole’s brother and two cousins.
Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Miranda decides to take a break and spend some time alone at a cabin. She is guilty of causing a couple to lose their means of income because she did not heed the rules and did what she wanted to do. Now, she discovers a mysterious company while staying in Cabin Eight. She must fight to escape their clutches.
Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
Cabin eight is written by Susan Specht Oram. It is a psychological-conspiracy thriller. Imagine if what you did online comes back to bite you in the butt. Miranda Diggs has a seedy past that has set her apart from others, she accidently burns down a hotel and has faced trauma in her past. she gets invited to a resort to stay for the weekend and decides to take the resort up on the offer, why not? Unfortunately like some of her other life choices it comes back to haunt her. In this book you get a chance to think about the ramifications on putting information on the internet, as well as what you would do if you got caught in a predicament you had to fight your way out of. A short read but definitely one worth it. A little repetitive in the beginning but once the climax happens it gets good.
Reviewed by @melancholyrose
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Non Verbal by Molly Zenk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I knew before I started reading that this book would be emotional and I can say without hesitation it was that. This character has got to be one of my all time favourites. I connected with her so easily and I loved that the author chose her as the focal point of this book. It is unusual to come across a book that tackles such a prominent issue and even more rare to find one that does it so well. I think it is so important for more books like this to be written. It gives a great insight into what life with autism must be like and I applaud the author was the accurate depiction. This is a book that everyone should read.
The Serpent and the Firefly by Courtney Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading this fantasy book. This is an author that I have enjoyed reading and this book is no different. I enjoy her writing style as well as her attention to details that gave the story a realistic feel. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. This is a story about a prophecy being fulfilled or can the prophecy change in a fight for control. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into their world. They took me on an adventure of control but who wins you will need to find out by reading this book. They are strong, supportive characters that have great growth and add so much to the story. This is a fast paced, hard to put down story that had me coming back for more. An engaging story that you don’t want to miss. I highly recommend this book.
Review by @bjwagner
Consigliere’s Revenge by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is another incredible addition to an already amazing series. I could not wait to pick this one up and start reading, I had to see what the author had in store. The story is just as intense and captivating as the others and I loved reading about the characters. Their chemistry was undeniable and I was pulled into their connection instantly. I knew once I started this book I wouldn’t be able to put it down because I had to see how the story would develop.
This author creates fantastic stories and this one is no exception. Whenever I see a new book by her I pick it up without hesitation. I cannot recommend her books highly enough and I am already excited to see what the next one will be.
Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Book 1) by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ten Thousand Shells and Counting is the heart-wrenching memoir of Nadija’s life as a fourteen- year-old living in war torn Sarajevo in the 1990’s. Her quiet life was changed forever when she watched tanks roll into the airport across the street from her home. From that moment forward Nadija’s life became a struggle to survive with shells going off all around her and with no safe place to hide. She watched in shock and horror as friends, family, and neighbors were killed right in front of her when shells landed nearby. When a sniper killed her neighbor, her family was forced to flee their home and try to seek refuge in another part of the city. Nadija and her family slept on mattresses on the floor so that stray bullets did not kill them in their sleep. Food was scarce and had to be rationed so she went to bed hungry every night. Nadija lived without the basics of running water, electricity, and heat. She lived in fear everyday wondering if she would be the next casualty of the war that ravaged around them.
This memoir was a testament to the author’s strength and resilience as she struggled to through the atrocities and horrors of war. Despite what was going on around her, Nadija attempted to be a normal teenager by staying out too late and smoking too much. Young Nadija learned that the conflicts were not limited to the war raging outside as bickering, arguments, and disagreements ran rampant through their home and within their family. War brought out the worst in people living in cramped quarters as squabbles started over things like toothpaste and wanting bigger rations. Through these experience Nadija learns to stand up for herself and used humor as a bit of a coping mechanism.
This story was real, raw, and honest. I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride of shock, horror, anger, and sadness at the destruction caused by war. It is heartbreaking to think of the senseless acts of violence against innocent people. How lives are taken, and homes destroyed without thought. How children must witness the violence and bloodshed. Thank you, Nadija, for sharing your experiences of living through war with us. Your strength, courage, and resilience are admirable.
A Monster for Meg by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Once again I have found a good book for children. I only wish mine were little enough for it but I would certainly recommend it for those with small children. This author does a wonderful job of making learning fun and bringing fun facts to children. I like how the author draws upon the readers imagination as well as brings fun to reading. The characters are well written and down to earth. I was quite impressed with the simplicity and light hearted nature of these books. I definitely will recommend these books to anyone with small children.
Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
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A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
You can tell there was a lot of historical research that went into writing this 19th century realistic retelling of Cinderella with some added twists. Unlike Cinderella here, you have a curse that needs to be broken by midnight which holds more urgency than just someone seeing your ball gown disappear and your coach turn back into a pumpkin. Another difference that I enjoyed was the idea of multiple love interests. Though I’m typically not a fan of love triangles, I really enjoyed the way Christine Norris utilized the love triangle to help us understand the characters and how their histories affected them and their lives. This is a fun, clean-cut young adult fantasy read. Do I wish it had included more steampunk aspects? Yes, but it’s a nice read nonetheless.
Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So much detail!! Best one yet!! The action the plot twists I loved everything. This book definitely kept me guessing on what would happen next. Between the different cultures and trying to overcome their differences. 😚 magnificent.
Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So good!! Did not disappoint at all! Can’t wait to read the last one and know the rest of the story. I love the character development. Not just the main character but the rest as well. It’s all very realistic and keeps you interested.
Undying Light: The Stella Maris Series Book 1 by Aurora Wildey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Undying Light (The Stella Maris Series Book 1) by Aurora Wildey. This is a wonderful, fantasy, paranormal series. This book was a great start to the series and I can’t wait for the next one. Its the story of Kaela who is trying to finish nursing school and has the healing Power of Light. She is recovering from an attack that almost killed her. Terran who is a district attorney and a werewolf sees her being attacked and steps in to save her. Terran gets injured in turn and Kaela uses her powers to save him. Once Kaela heals him she is in grave danger and Terran vows to protect her no matter what. When Kaela has another attack on her, her friend Seth who has the same powers of her steps in to protect her. Of course Seth and Terran do not like each other and Kaela feels like she is being torn into. Will Kaela survive this attack on her and will she be able to keep Terran and Seth happy? I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Its going to be so good.
A Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Spot of Earl Slay is the first book in the Tea Time Troubles series. I love tea, mysteries and wordplay so was immediately drawn to this book, and it did not disappoint! It’s a fun cozy mystery series set in a small town. The main characters are a mother-daughter duo who are close to each other but going through a difficult patch in their life.
My favourite characters are Barbara and Ingrid, the neighbours who look after Naomi and Ella when they arrive and get straight into gossiping about the murder and the town in general. There’s such a good dynamic between them and I love how they intuitively find ways to connect with Ella.
This is a great comfort read for snuggling up with a cup of tea and a baked treat (and I would recommend getting the tea and treat ready before you start reading as it won’t be long before you’re craving them!). It gets five stars from me, I’d recommend it to cozy mystery fans! I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.
Where Fire Meets Flame by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The is a shorter story that packs a punch! There is also quite a few bits of danger that show up in here. I enjoyed the book and the flow which makes it easy to read. The characters are few and they have interesting jobs. The two main personalities are just adorable when they see each other. Their chemistry is electric and I could feel that first kiss to my toes.
Overall this is an easy to read first book in a new series. Interesting characters and a suspenseful storyline make this a good book.
